The criminal court in New Caledonia has sentenced three men to jail terms for their role in the violence along a main road at St Louis in November 2016.
Photo: 123rf
Two of the men have been given sentences of four and three years respectively for a range of offences, including threatening with arms, attempted armed robbery and blocking traffic.
A third defendant, who is still on the run, was given a five-year sentence.
Their offending came a month after police shot and killed an unarmed escapee William Decoire in a stolen vehicle near St Louis, which triggered days of riots.
The defence said there was a two-speed justice at play because the system was working slowly in regards to the Decoire death.
The prosecution said the offenders were not trying to avenge Decoire's death but wanted to terrorise people.
The two convicted men are due back in court today when they are to be tried with four others for allegedly trying to kill police officers in another incident near St Louis in November 2016.